Double-Barrelled Gun And Two-Row Magazine

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a gun (1) with a pair of barrels (6′, 6″) flanking each other, each delimiting a cartridge chamber (12′, 12″). The gun further comprises a pair of firing pin tips (8′,8″) for a cartridge (10′, 10″), movable towards the cartridge chambers (12′, 12″) by means of a firing device operated by a trigger (4′, 4″); such device acts on the firing pin tips to allow a substantially simultaneous advancement thereof. The invention also relates to a two row magazine for a double barrelled gun.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a double barrelled gun and a magazinewhich can be used with a double barrelled gun.

Description of the Prior Art

The use of guns with two barrels flanking each other wherein, by meansof a special selector, the barrel suitable for firing a bullet isdetermined, is known of for example from document U.S. Pat. No.1,202,707 A.

Such guns use the cartridges from a first magazine until exhausted,after which they switch automatically to receive a supply from a secondmagazine flanking the first.

However there are applications, for example in the armaments field orfor training purposes, in which the need is increasingly felt to be ablefire two types of cartridge (such as a tracking bullet and an ordinarybullet) at the same time.

Such need must however occur in the absence of a double firing action:in the presence of such effect it would in fact be extremely difficultto guarantee the precision of the second bullet coming out of thebarrels, mainly on account of the recoil of the first detonation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore sets out, in the aforesaid context, tosupply a gun suitable for firing two bullets from barrels flanking eachother in a substantially simultaneous manner, and where the doublefiring action is virtually absent.

Such objective is achieved by a gun comprising a gripping portion and atleast one trigger mounted in a movable manner to the gripping portion, afirst and a second barrel, connected to the gripping portion andflanking each other, wherein an end portion of each barrel delimits acartridge chamber, and a first and a second firing pin tip for acartridge, movable towards the cartridge chambers by means of a firingdevice operated by the trigger, wherein the firing device acts on thefiring pin tips to allow a substantially simultaneous advancementthereof. The dependent claims show preferred embodiment variations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in detail, with the help ofthe attached drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 respectively show a front perspective, rear and frontview of a gun of the present invention, according to a possibleembodiment;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two longitudinal cross-sections respectively alongthe planes J and K of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 6, 9 and 12 show front views corresponding to FIG. 3, but indifferent functioning configurations of the gun;

FIGS. 7 and 8, 10 and 11, 13 and 14 show longitudinal cross-sectionsrespectively at the planes P and N, R and Q, T and S of FIGS. 6, 9 and12;

FIGS. 15 and 16 show enlargements of the muzzle of the gun in FIG. 1respectively in an assembly step of the recovery spring and in theabsence of the bushes and of the springs;

FIGS. 17 and 18 show opposite perspective views of the guide busheswhich can be used with the gun which the present invention relates to,according to one possible variant;

FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 illustrate perspective views of a two row magazine,which the present invention relates to, according to a possible variant,and a magazine bottom used in such magazine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the aforesaid drawings, reference numeral 1 globallydenotes a gun.

Preferably, the gun which the present invention relates to issemi-automatic or automatic, optionally switchable from thesemi-automatic to automatic mode by means of a special function selector(not shown).

Such gun 1 comprises a gripping portion 2 and at least one trigger 4′,4″ mounted in a movable manner to the gripping portion 2.

In particular, the trigger 4′, 4″ is mounted in a translatable (as shownin the figures) or rotatable manner in relation the gripping portion 2.

The gripping portion 2 advantageously comprises a grip or grippable part38, preferably ergonomically shaped in relation to a user's hand.

According to one embodiment, the gripping portion 2 further comprises asupport wall 46, connected to the grippable part 38 and which extendsfrom it along a barrel direction X.

According to a further embodiment, the gripping portion 2 comprises atrigger guard 48 which extends from the support wall 46 to the grippablepart 38, advantageously made in one piece with the aforesaid wall 46 andthe aforementioned part 38.

According to yet a further embodiment, the grippable part 38 is hollowso as to reversibly receive a magazine, for example two-rowed.

Preferably, the gun comprises a two row magazine 36 engaged in theaforesaid grippable part 38.

Advantageously, such magazine 36 comprises a pair of reciprocallyseparate and parallel rows 40′, 40″, each delimiting a compartment 42′,42″ to slidingly house a plurality of cartridges 10′, 10″ and a magazinebottom 44 connected to the rows 40′, 40″ to join them to each other.

So, each of the rows 40′, 40″ has an access aperture to the respectivehousing compartments 42′, 42″, so that the cartridges 10′, 10″ are fedin a parallel manner to the cartridge chambers described below fromdifferent rows. For example, such supply occurs by means of springs (notshown) which push the cartridges from the bottom of the row towards theaccess apertures.

According to a preferred variant, the connection of at least one 40′,40″ of said rows to the bottom of the magazine 44 is releasable, forexample by means of a dovetail coupling. Advantageously, both the rowshave such releasable coupling.

The gun further comprises a first 6′ and a second 6″ barrel, connectedto the gripping portion 2 and flanking each other, wherein an endportion of each barrel 6′, 6″ delimits a cartridge chamber 12′, 12″.

As a result, the cartridge chambers 12′, 12″, preferably positioned atproximal end portions 6 a of the barrels 6′, 6″, are suitable forreceiving at least partially respective cartridges 10′, 10″

Within this patent text, the term “proximal” will be taken to mean thecomponents of the gun positioned near or towards the grippable part 38;vice versa, the term “distal” will be used to indicate the componentspositioned towards a firearm muzzle 54.

According to one variation, the barrels 6′, 6″ extend parallel to thesupport wall 46.

According to a further variation, the barrels are of the same calibre,but suitable for receiving munitions of different types. For example,the first barrel 6′ can be loaded with a tracking cartridge, and thesecond barrel 6″ with a frangible cartridge, with shot or with ordinarybullets.

According to yet a further variant, the barrels 6′, 6″ are a differentcalibre to each other.

In other words, this embodiment makes it possible to select not only thetype of cartridge desired, as for example illustrated above, but alsothe relative calibre.

One advantageous embodiment envisages that the barrels 6′, 6″ aresubstantially parallel to each other, for example in the barreldirection X.

According to a further embodiment, the barrels are reciprocallyconverging in such a way that the bullets 58′, 58″ coming out of themcome closer together at a predefined distance from the gun 1. Forexample, the barrels can be regulated in such a way that the aforesaidbullets meet 10, 15 or 20 metres from the muzzle 54.

According to one variation, the barrels 6′, 6″ have the same type ofinner rifling 56, so that they both comprise clockwise or anticlockwiseriflings.

Preferably, the gun 1 comprises a slide 20 mounted on the barrels 6′, 6″in a translatable manner between a rest configuration and an extractionconfiguration, wherein the slide 20 allows the exit of a cartridge case28′, 28″ from at least one of the cartridge chambers 12′, 12″.

This way, during the translation of the slide 20, for example parallelto the barrel direction X, new cartridges 10′, 10″ can replace thecartridge cases 28′, 28″ remaining from the previous firing cycle, asbetter illustrated below.

According to one variation, the slide 20 is distally supported by thesupport wall 46.

According to a preferred embodiment, the slide 20 identifies a pair oftransit apertures 30′, 30″, opposite each other, of a sufficientcross-section to expel the cartridge cases 28′, 28″ from the cartridgechambers 12′, 12″.

In other words, when the slide 20 moves to the extraction configuration,an extractor claw (not shown), joined to the slide 20 at each barrel,acts in conjunction with the cartridge cases 28′, 28″ for theirexpulsion through the transit apertures 30′, 30″, preferably alongsubstantially symmetrical trajectories.

Preferably, when the slide 20 is in the extraction configuration, thetransit apertures 30′, 30″ communicate with each other forming a passage32 which extends through the thickness of the gun 1.

Consequently, during the extraction of the gun cases, the complete exitof the gases generated by the firing of the fuse is guaranteed.

Moreover, when the slide 20 returns to the rest configuration (as shownfor example in FIGS. 9 to 11), it interacts preferably with thecartridges 10′, 10″ surfacing from the magazine 36 for their insertionin the cartridge chambers 12′, 12″.

According to a particularly advantageous variant, the slide 20 ismounted on the barrels 6′, 6″ by means of guide bushes 26′, 26″ which atleast partially house said barrels 6′, 6″, and preferably house a distalend portion 6 b of such barrels, when the slide 20 is positioned in therest configuration.

As a result, the guide bushes 26′, 26″ are positioned between thebarrels and the slide in such a way that during the translation of theslide 20 between the aforesaid configurations, such bushes accompany andguide the slide in movement.

Preferably, at least one guide bush 26′, 26″ has a tubular body 68,which extends around an axis parallel to the barrel axis X and which canbe inserted in a distal aperture 60 of the slide 20.

Even more preferably, at least one guide bush comprises a stop element66, connected to the tubular body and which extends from it in asubstantially radial direction.

Advantageously, the stop element 66 is asymmetrical in relation to theextension axis of the bush, that is it protrudes in an uneven mannerexternally to the outer surface of the guide bush.

In other words, the stop element projects to a greater degree in somecircumferential areas of the bush, in relation to the tubular body 68,but to a lesser degree in other areas.

According to a preferred embodiment, the stop element iscircumferentially discontinuous, that is the guide bush has a section ofbush 62 lacking the stop element, for example wherein the thickness ofthe element is equal (or even inferior) to the thickness of the wall ofthe bush or rather the tubular body 68.

Advantageously, the guide bushes 26′, 26″ are reciprocallycounter-rotatable so as to be attached to the slide 20, preferably witha bayonet coupling.

Consequently, according to this variant, after the bushes have beeninserted in the distal aperture 60 of the slide 20, they are rotated inreciprocally opposite directions for their attachment.

For the variants which envisage a bayonet coupling, the guide bushes26′, 26″ comprise a blocking tooth 64 which extends from the outersurface of each bush and which is suitable to engage a retention groove66 made in the slide 20.

So, the guide bushes are engaged in the distal aperture 60 in a firstangular position, wherein the blocking tooth 64 is free of impedimentsfor an axial engagement with the slide 20. Such configuration is, forexample shown for the bush 6″ in FIG. 15. Subsequently, when theblocking tooth 64 is rotationally aligned to a mouth of the retentiongroove 66, the bush-slide attachment is completed by performing arotation, in an anticlockwise direction in the variant shown.

As regards the assembly of the first bush 6′, the assembly steps are thesame, except for the final rotation, which is clockwise.

Should the space available between the guide bushes be limited, forexample in the case in which the barrels are mounted very close on thegripping portion, it is particularly advantageous to envisage a sectionof bush 62 lacking the stop element 66; in fact, such variant permits areduction of the transversal dimensions (thickness) of the firearm, butcontemporarily allows operating with a certain degree of ease during theassembly step despite the steric hindrance.

In the variants shown, the blocking tooth 64 is substantially parallelto the stop element 66, but advantageously presents a circumferentialextension inferior to said element 66.

The gun 1 further comprises a first 8′ and a second 8″ firing pin tipfor a cartridge 10′, 10″, movable towards the cartridge chambers 12′,12″ by means of a firing device operated by the trigger 4′, 4″.

As a result, following operation of the trigger, the firing tips 8′, 8″shift in the direction of the cartridge to strike the fuse by means ofthe firing device.

In the variants shown, each firing pin comprises a firing pin body 52′,52″ which defines the firing pin tip 8′, 8″ and an opposite firing pinhead 50′, 50″; this way the head is positioned proximally to the body52′ 52″ while the tip, mechanically connected to the head, distallyfaces the cartridge chamber 12′, 12″.

Advantageously, the firing pin tips 8′, 8″, are housed so as to slide inseats 70 positioned proximally to the slide 20.

According to one embodiment each firing pin tip 8′, 8″ is constantlydistanced from the cartridge chamber 12′, 12″ by means of an elasticcomponent 68. For example, the elastic component 68 comprises a springmounted coaxially to the firing pin so that the latter acts as a springguide rod. Advantageously, the elastic component 68 is housed in thesame slide seat 70.

According to a further variation, the firing device comprises a floatingfiring pin system.

According to different variants, the firing device comprises at leastone hammer 14, hinged to the gripping portion 2, at least one firing pinbody 52′, 52″ connected to the tips 8′, 8″, and/or at least one lever22′, 22″ or at least one connection gear 24′, 24″ operatively associatedto the trigger 4′, 4″, to transmit its operation to the firing pin tips8′, 8″.

The aforesaid firing device acts on the firing pin tips 8′, 8″ to allowa substantially simultaneous advancement thereof.

Consequently, the gun of the present invention is suitable for avoidingthe double firing action, in that the firing pin tips reach thecartridge chambers 12′, 12″ substantially in the same instant, so thatthe bullets of the cartridges contained therein are expelled from themuzzle 54 in a synchronous manner.

In other words, despite the presence of two barrels and of twocartridges, such gun is not subject to a double recoil thanks to theconformation of the firing device described below.

According to a first variant, the firing device comprises a hammer 14,common to both firing pin tips 8′, 8″ to move them towards the cartridgechambers 12′, 12″.

Preferably, the hammer 14 identifies a first 16′ and a second 16″ impactsurface with the pair of firing pin heads 50′, 50″, where such surfaces16′, 16″ are advantageously separated by an undercut (or lowered) area18 for the at least partial housing of the slide 20 movable on thegripping portion 2.

As a result, such variant substantially corresponds to a gun with twohammers flanking each other, connected so as to be joined to each otherby a connection arm 72. According to one embodiment, the two hammers andthe connection arm 72 are made in one piece.

Advantageously, the hammer 14 is constantly influenced by at least oneelastic element 76′, 76″ towards an abutment position with the firingpin.

As a result, in preparing to fire the gun, the hammer 14 must first becocked from the abutment position to a loaded position, such that whenthe trigger is pressed, the elastic element 76′, 76″ returns the hammerto the abutment position.

In the variant shown, the elastic element 76′, 76″ comprises a helicalspring, for example with a spring guide which crosses it longitudinally.

Advantageously, the gun 1 comprises a pair of elastic elements 76′, 76″,mounted parallel on the gripping portion, for example in a proximalportion of the same, advantageously along the grippable part 38.

According to a further embodiment, the firing device comprises a singlefiring pin body bearing the two firing pin tips 8′, 8″.

As a result, this variant envisages that the firing pin tips 8′, 8″ arejoined to each other by virtue of a two tip firing pin.

This way, for example according to a variant with two separate hammers,even in the event that one of the hammers should reach the firing pinearlier than the other, the advancement of the two tips would in anycase be guaranteed by the uniqueness of the firing pin for the twocartridge chambers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the firing device comprises a soleconnection lever 22′, 22″, associated to two triggers 4′, 4″, so thatthe operation of either one of them generates the advancement of thefiring pin tips 8′, 8 and thereby firing.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the firing device comprisesa sole connection gear 24′, 24″ which acts symmetrically, preferably atthe connection lever 22′, 22″ and the hammer 14, for the two cartridgechambers 12′, 12″.

For example, the connection gear 24′, 24″ comprises a single connectiontooth 74 which can be moved by the connection lever 22′, 22″ to releasethe single hammer 14, or a pair of hammers, towards the abutmentposition.

Merely by way of example, the transmission of the movement of theconnection lever 22′, 22″ to the retention tooth 74 takes place by meansof an eccentric system.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the firing device comprises asingle trigger 4′, 4″ to operate a pair of hammers 14, connection levers22′, 22″, connection gears 24′, 24″ and/or firing pin bodies 52′, 52″,to promote the movement of the firing pin tips 8′,8″.

According to a particularly reliable variation, the gun comprises eachof the bilateral trigger, hammer, connection lever, connection gear andfiring pin body couplings illustrated above.

Preferably, the gun comprises a first 34′ and a second 34″ recoveryspring, acting on the gripping portion 2 and on the slide 20 to bringthe latter back to the rest configuration when the pressure in thecartridge chambers 12′, 12″ is below a predefined value, for examplecorresponding to the atmospheric value.

In fact, after the firing pin tips have provoked firing of the fuse, thepressure in the cartridge chamber increases to the point of causing, onthe one hand the distal expulsion of the bullets 58′, 58″ and on theother the proximal rearward movement of the slide towards the extractionconfiguration of the cartridge cases. In this step the rigidity of therecovery springs 34′, 34″ is selected so as to allow the opening of thecartridge chambers, so that such springs are compressed.

After the rearward movement of the slide is complete, since thecartridge chambers are open to the outside, the pressure of the latterrapidly falls to atmospheric values, so that the recovery springs 34′,34″ distend to return the slide to the rest configuration.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recovery springs 34′, 34″ acton the guide bushes 26′, 26″, and in particular at the stop element 66,preferably with the interposition of a locking component 76′, 76″,

In fact, according to one variation, the locking component 76′, 76″distally defines at least one seat 78′, 78″ wherein the recovery springscan slide. Preferably, the gripping portion 2 defines a pair of seats78′, 78″ flanking each other, each suitable for partially housing arecovery spring.

According to a further embodiment, the locking component 76′, 76″ issuitable for forming a shape coupling with the stop element 66.

For example, the locking element 66 defines a seat 80 to at leastpartially receive the locking component 76′, 76″.

According to a preferred variant, the locking component 76′, 76″ has asurface for abutment 82 with the stop element 66, shaped so as toprevent undesired rotations of the guide bushes 26′, 26″, for examplesubsequent to its assembly to the slide.

For example, the surface for abutment 82 comprises an axially projectingsection 84 for engaging the seat 80, in such a way that the guide bushcan be released from the slide only after having pushed the lockingcomponent 76′, 76″ in opposition to the force exerted by the recoverysprings.

The present invention also relates to a two row magazine 36 suitable forbeing inserted in a double barrel gun, for example of the type describedabove, comprising a pair of reciprocally separate and parallel rows 40′,40″, each delimiting a compartment 42′, 42″ to slidingly house aplurality of cartridges 10′, 10″, and a magazine bottom 44 connected tothe rows 40′, 40″ to join them to each other; the connection of at leastone 40′; 40″ of such rows to the bottom of the magazine 44 isreleasable.

The present invention lastly relates to a gun 1 comprising a grippingportion 2, a first 6′ and a second 6″ barrel, connected to the grippingportion 2 and flanking each other, wherein an end portion of each barrel6′, 6″ defines a chamber 12′, 12″ for a cartridge 10′,10″. Such gun 1comprises a slide 20 mounted on the barrels 6′, 6″ in a translatablemanner between a rest configuration and an extraction configuration,wherein the slide 20 allows the exit of a cartridge case 28′, 28″ fromat least one of the cartridge chambers 12′, 12″, and wherein the slide20 is mounted on the barrels 6′, 6″ by means of guide bushes 26′, 26″reciprocally counter-rotatable so as to be attached to the slide 20.

Innovatively, the gun which the present invention relates to is suitablefor firing two bullets from barrels flanking each other in asubstantially simultaneous manner, such firing action occurringsubstantially in the absence of a double action.

Advantageously, the coupling method of the firing device is easy toconstruct and is extremely resistant to wear, since the synchronisationof the shots fired is guaranteed even following intensive use of thefirearm.

Advantageously, despite the increased ballistic efficiency, the gunwhich the present invention relates to is designed to present anextremely limited transversal dimension.

Advantageously, the gun which the present invention relates to has asuperior stopping power to traditional guns, and further permits adesired fire power to be achieved at a certain distance from thefirearm.

Advantageously, the gun which the present invention relates to permitsan extremely rapid exit of the gases generated by the explosion of thefuse, thanks to the increased cross-section for their transit.

Advantageously, the gun which the present invention relates to presentsan extremely simple and reliable assembly method, so that the couplingsbetween the various components remain accurate even after numerousfiring cycles or servicing.

Advantageously, the recovery springs used in the present gun exercise adual function as components for the repositioning of the slide, and asmeans suitable for preventing the accidental dismantling of the firearm.

Advantageously, the gun which the present invention relates to isextremely reliable in that, should one of the two fuses be defective orfail to detonate, the movement of the slide would be such as to allowthe extraction of a cartridge case and of the cartridge which has failedto fire; this way at the subsequent firing cycle, the present gun isonce again able to function normally.

Advantageously, the gun which the present invention relates to issuitable for being used regardless by right-hand or left-hand users,given the rational arrangement of the triggers.

Advantageously, the gun which the present invention relates to has beenspecially designed to resist the stresses of a double fuse and theincreased rearward force of the slide; such greater structuralresistance differentiates the present gun from traditional doublebarrelled guns, designed to withstand solely one detonation per firingcycle.

A person skilled in the art may make variations to the aforementionedembodiments of the gun and of the magazine or replace elements withothers functionally equivalent so as to satisfy specific requirements.

Such variations are also contained within the scope of protection asdefined by the following claims.

Moreover, each of the variants described as belonging to a possibleembodiment may be performed independently of the other variantsdescribed.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. Gun comprising: a gripping portion and at least onetrigger mounted in a movable manner to the gripping portion; a first anda second barrel, connected to the gripping portion and flanking eachother, wherein an end portion of each barrel delimits a cartridgechamber; a first and a second firing pin tip for a cartridge, movabletowards the cartridge chambers by means of a firing device operated bythe trigger; wherein the firing device acts on the firing pin tips toallow a substantially simultaneous advancement thereof.
 19. Gunaccording to claim 18, wherein the firing device comprises a hammer,hinged to the gripping portion, common to said firing pin tips.
 20. Gunaccording to claim 19, wherein the hammer identifies a first and asecond impact surface with a pair of firing pin heads, mechanicallyconnected to the firing pin tips, said surfaces being separated by anundercut area to at least partially house a slide associated to thegripping portion.
 21. Gun according to claim 18, wherein the firingdevice comprises at least one lever or connection gear operativelyassociated to the trigger, to transmit its operation to the firing pintips.
 22. Gun according to claim 18, wherein the firing device comprisesa single trigger to operate a pair of hammers, connection levers,connection gears and/or firing pin bodies, to promote the movement ofthe firing pin tips.
 23. Gun according to claim 18, wherein the barrelsare of a different calibre to each other.
 24. Gun according to claim 18,comprising a slide mounted on the barrels so as to be translatablebetween a rest configuration and an extraction configuration, in whichthe slide enables the exit of a cartridge case from the cartridgechambers.
 25. Gun according to claim 24, wherein the slide is mounted onthe barrels by means of guide bushes which at least partially house saidbarrels.
 26. Gun according to claim 24, wherein the slide identifies apair of transit apertures, opposite each other, of a sufficientcross-section to expel the cartridge cases from the cartridge chambers.27. Gun according to claim 26 wherein, when the slide is in theextraction configuration, the transit apertures communicate with eachother forming a passage which extends through the thickness of the gun.28. Gun according to claim 24, comprising a first and a second recoveryspring, acting on the gripping portion and on the slide to bring thelatter back to the rest configuration when the pressure in the cartridgechambers is below a predefined value.
 29. Gun according to claim 25,wherein the guide bushes are reciprocally counter-rotatable so as to beattached to the slide with a bayonet coupling.
 30. Gun according toclaim 18, comprising a two row magazine engaged in a grippable part ofthe gripping portion.
 31. Gun according to claim 30, wherein themagazine comprises: a pair of reciprocally separate and parallel rows,each delimiting a compartment to slidingly house a plurality ofcartridges; and a magazine bottom connected to the rows to join them toeach other.
 32. Gun according to claim 31, wherein the connection of atleast one of said rows to the bottom of the magazine is releasable, forexample by means of a dovetail coupling.
 33. Two row magazine suitablefor insertion in a two barrel gun comprising: a pair of reciprocallyseparate and parallel rows, each delimiting a compartment to slidinglyhouse a plurality of cartridges; a magazine bottom connected to the rowsto join them to each other; wherein the connection of at least one ofsaid rows to the bottom of the magazine is releasable.
 34. Guncomprising: a gripping portion; a first and a second barrel, connectedto the gripping portion and flanking each other, wherein an end portionof each barrel defines a chamber for a cartridge; a slide mounted on thebarrels in a translatable manner between a rest configuration and anextraction configuration, wherein the slide allows the exit of acartridge case from at least one of the cartridge chambers; wherein theslide is mounted on the barrels by means of reciprocallycounter-rotatable guide bushes so as to be fixed to the slide.